“Modern Impressionist Art” by Tracy Bezesky

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Tag Archives: digital painting

I’ve been on vacation. At this time, we were exploring the Keewenaw Peninsula around Lake Superior in Michigan. It would be a great opportunity for Plein Air painting, but I’m with family and we’re always on the move. I thought to squeeze it in while we were sitting on the beach, but the only option was my IPad. This would be great if not for sunlight’s glare on the screen. I used Art Set Pro on my IPad with a brush stylus. Fortunately I had colors picked for landscape on my palette. I made some revisions after I got inside. I considered it a worthwhile exercise. I’m heading home today.

I think using the IPad for Life Drawing works well. I was able to get the figure done in the 1.5 hour session, and I did the chair and background at home.

I used the Art Set Pro app on the ipad, because it behaves very close to natural media. I like the color pencil for drawing, and for coloring and shading I like the oil pastel, and paint. I manipulated it with the eraser, rag and water tools. I used a Wacom Bamboo Stylus.

Since I have a cold, and didn’t feel like standing up to an easel, I decided it was time to give IPad painting a try from my comfy couch. I have tried out other paint programs, but was never completely content. I was inspired by the work of Janette Leeds of http://artandwordsjanetteleeds.com to try “Art Set Pro” on the iPad.

This painting is the same subject as one I did with real paint, except this time I did it from memory. It was the first thing that popped in my head. Clouds are one of my test subjects for new media. I use to make apples.

I found it was much like the real painting experience. I can paint somewhat like I do with real paint. I even picked some of the colors off a photograph of one of my paintings to get just the colors I use.

In many cases it’s nice to have the original painting, but I can see a real advantage for illustration, like a picture book. It comes out much better than a scan of a painting. Keeping consistency in colors through many pages would be easier. A print quality at 8×10″ 300 dpi can be achieved. I think I could go a little bigger.

There is also the advantage of spontaneous play and doodling, and knowing that you aren’t wasting materials. I could use it like an oil sketch for planning big paintings too. It’s just good fun!